Last week we asked for your support in a struggle by workers in north London care homes whose pay has been cut by 30% by a privatized employer, Fremantle. Within hours, you flooded the inbox of Fremantle's chief executive with thousands of messages. By the weekend, over 5,000 messages had been received.

The reaction of the company was swift: On Friday afternoon, they fired off an email message to me threatening LabourStart with legal action, accusing us of "libel". (As you may know, English libel laws are biased against the defendant, and are used by corporations to attempt to suppress dissent.)

A couple of days later, Fremantle got even more aggressive, and sacked Unison rep Andrew Rogers (pictured).

Andrew Rogers, Unison rep sacked by Fremantle this week

This bullying behavior is, I am told, typical of how this company works. They've asked us to stop this campaign, to stop saying negative things about them, and to stop sending them email protest messages.

I say: let's flood them with thousands more messages. Let's raise the profile of this campaign.

If you've not yet sent off your message of protest -- it will take just a few seconds -- please go here to do do.

Today, LabourStart has launched a major Google ad campaign to put further pressure on the company. These campaigns cost money - please make sure to donate by clicking here. I know that we can count on your support and your generosity once again.

If Fremantle decides to follow through on its threat to sue us, if its attorneys send us a registered letter in the post, here is what I intend to do: I will put the letter up for auction on eBay, and I will invite all our supporters to bid on it.

We will not be bullied and we will not be threatened. The campaign continues.

Australia: Foster's brewery workers need our help

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, a company you are much more likely to have heard of (especially if you drink beer) is also attempting to lower labour costs by refusing to recognize the union freely chosen by its employees. Fosters needs to receive a loud and clear message from trade unionists -- and beer drinkers -- around the world. Please support the IUF campaign today.

Virtual strikes, virtual unions: Italian IBM workers make history

IBM employees in Italy made headlines around the world this week (reported on LabourStart) when they announced their intention to carry out a "virtual strike" inside "Second Life". They are being supported by Union Network International, which is inviting all of us to participate in this unprecedented action. You are all encouraged to set up free accounts at SecondLife, and next week, to receive virtual "strike kits" from the union. UNI has helpfully provided details of how to get started using Second Life. Training courses within Second Life will take place from 9:00 to 21:00 (Italy time) on 12 September at UNI's virtual house on Commonwealth Island inside Second Life.

I realize that for most of you, the above was utterly new and perhaps incomprehensible. Please don't ask me for help -- I'm as new to this as you are. But if you want more help, or if you are already a Second Life user and can help others, please do contact Christine Revkin at UNI - christine.revkin@union-network.org

Have a great weekend.

Eric Lee

This message was sent from Eric Lee to olympiaworkers@riseup.net. It was sent from: LabourStart, 51 Briarfield Avenue, London, UK N3 2LG, United Kingdom. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

Last week we asked for your support in a struggle by workers in northLondon care homes whose pay has been cut by 30% by a privatized employer,Fremantle. Within hours, you flooded the inbox of Fremantle's chiefexecutive with thousands of messages. By the weekend, over 5,000 messageshad been received.

The reaction of the company was swift: On Friday afternoon, they fired offan email message to me threatening LabourStart with legal action, accusingus of "libel". (As you may know, English libel laws are biased against thedefendant, and are used by corporations to attempt to suppress dissent.)

A couple of days later, Fremantle got even more aggressive, and sackedUnison rep Andrew Rogers (pictured).

Andrew Rogers, Unison rep sacked by Fremantle this week

This bullying behavior is, I am told, typical of how this company works.They've asked us to stop this campaign, to stop saying negative thingsabout them, and to stop sending them email protest messages.

I say: let's flood them with thousands more messages. Let's raise theprofile of this campaign.

Today, LabourStart has launched a major Google ad campaign to put furtherpressure on the company. These campaigns cost money - please make sure todonate by [http://labourstart.chipin.com/labourstart] clicking here. Iknow that we can count on your support and your generosity once again.

If Fremantle decides to follow through on its threat to sue us, if itsattorneys send us a registered letter in the post, here is what I intend todo: I will put the letter up for auction on eBay, and I will invite all oursupporters to bid on it.

We will not be bullied and we will not be threatened. The campaigncontinues.

Australia: Foster's brewery workers need our help

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, a company you are much morelikely to have heard of (especially if you drink beer) is also attemptingto lower labour costs by refusing to recognize the union freely chosen byits employees. Fosters needs to receive a loud and clear message fromtrade unionists -- and beer drinkers -- around the world. Please support[http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=303] the IUFcampaign today.

Virtual strikes, virtual unions: Italian IBM workers make history

IBM employees in Italy made headlines around the world this week (reportedon LabourStart) when they announced their intention to carry out a "virtualstrike" inside "Second Life". They are being supported by Union NetworkInternational, which is inviting all of us to participate in thisunprecedented action. You are all encouraged to set up free accounts atSecondLife, and next week, to receive virtual "strike kits" from theunion. UNI has helpfully provided details of[http://www.uniglobalunion.org/SecondLife] how to get started using SecondLife. Training courses within Second Life will take place from 9:00 to21:00 (Italy time) on 12 September at UNI's virtual house on CommonwealthIsland inside Second Life.

I realize that for most of you, the above was utterly new and perhapsincomprehensible. Please don't ask me for help -- I'm as new to this asyou are. But if you want more help, or if you are already a Second Lifeuser and can help others, please do contact Christine Revkin at UNI -christine.revkin@union-network.org